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Rosacea is a troubling and sometimes embarrassing skin condition that affects both women and men. Men may think that there’s less they can do to camouflage and treat their skin than women, but in fact there are many ways in which their rosacea can be treated and improved.

Seeking treatment is especially important for men as they, points out dermatologist Benjamin Barankin, MD, of the Dermatology Center in Toronto, because they “tend to have more phymatous rosacea, which means they are more prone to swollen, enlarged noses as part of their rosacea.”

Best Skin Care Practices for Men With Rosacea

Dr. Barankin advises men with rosacea to follow this skin care regimen:

Use a mild cleanser. Wash using a fragrance-free, gentle cleanser and your fingertips, not a washcloth. Use warm, never hot, water to rinse. Gently pat your face dry with an absorbent towel. ·

Apply metronidazole gel (MetroGel and other brands) as directed. This gel is available by prescription from your doctor. Use it on all affected areas and wait about five minutes for it to be absorbed before applying other products. ·

Take oral antibiotics if prescribed. Antibiotics are ordered by your doctor when rosacea is out of control or if your eyes are involved.

Shaving Tips for Men With Rosacea

“Rosacea mainly affects the upper cheeks and nose, so there is not much concern with shaving,” says Barankin. That is, unless you suffer from folliculitis, an inflammation of the hair follicles that is common in men with rosacea If you do need to shave any affected areas, use an electric razor rather than a razor with blades that can become dull and aggravate your skin, or switch razor blades frequently.

When it comes to rosacea skin care for men, you want to be very cautious about the shaving products you choose to use. A key step is reading labels of shaving cream, after-shave, and other products to avoid ingredients known to aggravate rosacea, such as:

Alcohol

Camphor

Clove oil

Eucalyptus oil

Fragrance

Menthol

Mint

Salycylic acid

Sodium laurel sulfate

Witch hazel

Discontinue using any shaving cream or after-shave that burns or stings your skin. Other skin care products that typically have irritating ingredients are astringents, toners, and those that exfoliate; it’s best to avoid all of them.

Getting Rid of the Redness

Even if you follow all of these steps, there may be days when the redness of rosacea seems all too obvious to you. If you're interested in camouflage, Barankin recommends using a green-toned cover-up, such as Cover FX, Dermablend, or Covermark. However, he points out that there are also procedures that can help reduce redness. “Rather than camouflage the redness, consider intense pulse-light or laser treatment to clear up much of the rosacea,” Barakin says. ask your doctor about these rosacea treatments.

With gentle skin care, the right medications, and advice from your dermatologist, you can get a clean shave and reduce the redness of your skin.